Steam shower for paper corrugators



July 16, 1940.

T. S. FlTCHETT STEAM SHOWER FOR PAPER GORRUGATORS Filed July 28, 195'? 5 Sheets-Sheet l 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 T. S. FlTCHETT STEAM SHOWER FOR PAPER CORRUGATORS Filed July 28, 1 93 i n I 13 NF I I IIII #i wl LFIIIII I LWIIIL.

July 16, 1940.

July 16, 1940.

T. S. FITCHETT STEAM SHOWER- FOR PAPER CORRUGATORS 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed July 28, 1.93?

Patented July 16, 1940 Thomas S. Fitchett, Glen Arm,

F. X. Hooper flompanyhlina, (Glen MIL, asslgnor to, Arm, Md, a

eorporaflon oi Marylou application July 28, 193?, Serial No. 156.084;

In the manuiacture oi single-faced corrugated board to be used as such or to be further faced on the uncovered side of the corrugated material to term double-faced corrugated board, it is usual to soften the straw, which is the term applied in the art to the paper which is to be corrugated, by steaming it as it enters the corrugating machine.

The steaming device usually extends across the path of the web the rear of the machine, and as the corrugated board is made in a variety or widths there is generally some means for confining the delivery of steam to the width of the web. This steam ing apparatus, which has been variously re ferred to in the art as a steamer, a "preheater, or a "steam shower," has been provided in various forms. In one instance, it is in the form oi a row of nozzles mounted on and fed by a transverse pipe on one or both sidesof the web; and, in order to limit the delivery of steam to thewidth or the web or to otherwise regulate the supply of steam, eachnozzie has been provided with a valve, the valve being opened or closed to regulate the steam discharge to the width of the web.

This type of steam shower is comparatively expensive to construct, cumbersome, and slow in regulation, and presents the dimcultythat the discharge of steam is not confined to the paper or straw, there being in the majority of instances a considerable opportunity for the escape of the steam into the room where the machine is located, with consequent inconvenience and discomfort expense incident to the waste of steam.

The primary objects of the invention are to provide a steam shower for paper corrugating machines which is cheap which the adjustment of charged steam to the width oi the straw o p per to be treatedis easily and quickly performed with a high degree or accuracy, and one in which the discharge of steam into the room is reduced to construct, one in to the minimum or practically eliminated. The

steaming device shown may be used'for-treating similar webs with fluids .other than steam.

In the accompanying drawings, I have illustrated a steam shower for the purpose described, embodying the features of the invention in a preferred and modified form, together with so much of a corrugator equipped with the usual mechanism for applying a single facing as is necessary to a iull understanding of the invention.

In the drawings:

above and below the web at to the workmen andthe area of the dis (or. rte-soy Figural is aside elevation of the steam shower shown in connection with a single facer corrugating machine, the machine being broken away to show the rolls of the commuting machine and facer in section, the arrangement being con- 5 ventional.

Figure 2 is an elevation showing two steam shower members, one above and one below the web, brackets supporting the same being shown the tubular body members of the respective steam showers being arranged in, the broken line position in Figure 1, the full line position being the preferred arrangement, and the tubular body members being thrown out or horizontal aiine- 15 ment by adjustment from the full line position in Figure 1 for convenience of illustration, the I position Fig. 2 being also an operative position.

Figure 3 is a section ontheline 3-3 in Figure 2 X loomng in the direction of the arrows, portions of so the bottom tubular body member being broken away for convenience of illustration.

Figure i is a side elevation of a modified form of steam shower tubular body member, showing a diflereut method oi adJusting the length of the 25 line of steam discharge to the width and position of the web. It is adapted for use on both sides or the web, as is the first form.

Figure 5 is a section on the line 6-6 in Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a top plan view of the structure of Figures 5 and 6. Figure 7 is a detailed view-of the slot-closing; member.

Referring to the drawings by numerals, each 35 oi which-is used to indicate the same or similar parts inthe difierent figurea'the construction shown in Figure 1 comprises a side frame memher i on the right or the machine the front of the machine being treated as at the right in w Figure l, and a fragment of a side frame 2 on the left side of the machine and toward the observer. This is broken away along the line ain said figure, showing the steam shower in eleyation and the rolls of the corrugating machine in section.

- The illustration includes upper and lower corrugating rolls 3 and l which are made hollow to provide for heating and are provided with longitudinally extending for the corrugating operation, and strippers 5',- all in accordance with the usual practice. The machine also includes heater rolls 8 and I for presenting and preheating, the facing web 8 which. is passed around, these rolls and then in section on a vertical plane 2--2 in Figure 1, 10 v inter-meshing teeth 5 w i around the heater and presser roll 9 in contact with the corrugated straw, as the material used for this purpose is called. dicated by reference character I, is fed to.the machine from the rear or left in Figure 1 through the steam shower H, to be later described, passing over and about the upper corrugator roll 3 and then backwardly between the corrugator rolls 3 and 4 where the corrugatiiig operation is performed.

After the corrugating operation, the web, which moves in left-handed corrugator roll 4, passes in contact with the pasting r011 l2 which is supplied with adhesive by means of the roll M which rotates in the paste pot or trough l5 and in The straw Web ID, as aforesaid, is steamed and pre heated and thus softened as it is fed to the machine through the steam shower apparatus II at the rear or upper left in Figure 1. The steam shower, as shown, consists of one or two or any suitable number of tubular steam with suitable packing rings 33or These appear in end elevation in brackets likewise at shower members, two being shown at and 2|. Figure 1, being arranged transversely of the path of the web Hi and each being of a length somewhat in excess of the width of the widest web to be treated and the corrugated board to be produced in the machine. In the arrangement shown, the tubular below the web andsteam shower member 20 is the corresponding member 2| is above the web, the steam from the member 20 being discharged upwardly and from the member 2| downwardly in contact with the web as hereinafter described.

The shower member 2| is mounted on brackets l6 supporting the tubular shower member 2| at each end, and the member 20 is supported on each end. The brackets side frames and '2 by and the brackets 1 J5 are secured to the means of bolts 22 in slots 24,

are secured to the brackets |B.by bolts 25 in slots 26,

so-that both of the tubularshower members 20 and 2| are adjustable up and down relatively to the frame and relatively to each other to provide for the treatment of the web In either in the flat condition as illustrated in Figures 2 and 3 or with the web deflected .about the tubular body members, which is the preferred arrangement, as shown in Figure 1; i. e., in the full line positions.

Having particular reference to the a construction shown in Figures 2 and 3, the tubular shower members 20 and 2| are shown each in the form of an ordinary cylindrical pipe, the size shown being approximately 3" in diameter. The shape 'of the'cross section and the size not of great importance except that a chamber within the tubular members 20 and 2| suflicient to permit expansion of the steam as fed is desirable. These tubular shower members are closed at their opposite ends by means of plugs 21 and 28 as to the tube or pipe 20, and 29 and 30 as to the pipe 2|, one or both the plugs in each tubular member or pipe being preferably removable. They may be securedby set screws 23. Each tubular shower member 20 and 2| is shown as provided with a pair of pistons ably mounted therein and preferably provided other suitable means for preventingthe steam from passing the pistons.

The straw web, in-

rotation about the lower contact with the roll I 2.

of the pipe are 3| and 32 slid-.

each end, and each is provided with a rotating bearing in the end plugs 21-28, etc., being supported against longitudinal motion by thrust means, as collars 36 secured by pins 36' on the outside and a shoulder 31 on the inside.

The brackets l6 and I1 are shown as provided with suitable bosses at 38 which, as shown, are bored at 39 or otherwise provided with suitable seats for the endsof the tubular shower members 2|) and 2|; and the shanks or shafts are provided with square, protruding ends at 40 for engagement by a suitable wrench or crank for adjustment of the pistons.

Any suitable discharge means may be provided, arranged transversely of the web, adapted to distribute steam to the web across its entire width, and having a plain surface surrounding the discharge area and contacting the web. For this purpose, the bottom tubular shower member 20 is shown as slotted longitudinally at the top at 4| in substantial parallelism with the axis for a length corresponding to the full width of the maximum web to be treated, and the tubular I member 2| is shown as correspondingly slotted as to its bottom surface at 42. The edge portions 42' on each side of the slots 4| present a surface of greater or less width in contact with the web across its transverse dimension.

Steam is introduced preferably near the center of each body member by means of suitable pipes 43-.-44, and the bottom tubular shower member 20 is shown as provided with a discharge pipe 45 for condensed water, though little difliculty is encountered from condensation.

The details shown are illustrative of the application of the principles of the invention and subject to'variation of design, any type of openings adapted to distribute the steam across the. width of the web and having their edges in closed contact with the web may be substituted for the longitudinal slots shown, and the term "piston is intended to apply to any movable closing means for limiting the discharge to the understood'that any convenient type of guiding means may be provided in connection with either or both steam showers for determining the position of the web as it passes through the shower.

For this purpose, guide members 53, which are shownas. T-shaped, having their shanks seated in the respective pistons 5| or 52 and projecting through the steam discharge slots 54, may be employed. The cross arms of the T member 53 lie at the sides of the web above or below the tubular shower member, being of sufllcient height or thickness and curved at -their edges 55 disposed toward the paper to act as edge guides.

The piston and guide are shown fragmentarily in Figure 7, the shank of the T guide being indicated by reference character 5'! and the cross bar of the T byreference character 53. The guide portions or cross bars 58 may be omitted, and theslot-closing shanks 51 are also regarded as a refinement.

The ends of the tubular shower member 50 are closed at 60 in any suitable manner, and any. ;means for moving the pistons to be described i The important feature ofthis form of the invention, as already suggested, is the provision of I two adjusting means, shown in the form or screws 6!, for the piston and 62 for the piston 1 52, whereby the pistons are adjusted to conform to the position as well as the width of the web. The adjusting screw 6| for; the piston 5| is threaded at 63 from the corresponding or left end of the. cylinder adjacent the plug 60 toa point near the center, the screw shaft at 64, where it extends through the piston 52 by way of opening 65 being plain, preferably forming a substantially steam-tight hearing. The screw 62 is similarly threaded at the right at $6 from the plug 60 and up to a point near the center of the length of the tubular member 503, each screw having a threaded engagement with the corresponding piston and extending freely through the other piston.

The shaft of the screw 62 at 611, as in of screw ti at M, is plain and extends through an opening at in the piston 5! which it fits sufficiently to substantially prevent the passage of steam, w king being used in both instances desired. Both screws are shown as having reduced shanks at their ends at 59 which run in bearings it in the plugs 6d, the thrust being taken up as in the previous instance, i. e.,* as shown and described in connection with Figure 2, or in any suitable manner; and both of the shanks ta should have square or angular ends H for engagement by a crank or wrench.

in Figure 5, the it is shown in operative relation to a web I?! of straw or similar material, it being understood that two tubular shower members are ordinarily used in the cooperative relation shown in Figures 1, 2, and 3. Figure 2 also shows the web H. de-- flected downwardly on both sides of the slot ti, this illustration being in broken lines and correspending ,with the full line arrangement in Figure i. In this way, more complete closing of the-slot may be obtained with a more eflicient operation in the way of economy and prevention of the escape of steam.

Many changes of form and arrangement and construct-ion are contemplated in connection with both embodiments of the invention.

In operation, the straw web it is laid over and under the steam'shower body members and 2t; covering the slots or other steam discharge means it and 62 therein, as shown in Figure 1 and also in Figures 3 and 5, from which point; it is laid over the upper corrugating roll 3 extending downwardly about the same to-the right in Figure 1 and then to the left beneath the bottom of the roll 3 and between corrugating rolls 8 60 and t and around the roll 4 in left-handed rotation after corrugation where it passes in operative relation to the pasting roll H. 'The facer web ii is introduced from a suitable supply roll and fed over the guide roll 15 to the heater roll 6, around which it is passed in left-handed rotation, being likewise passed in left-handed rotation. about the heater roll I and then about the heater and presser roll 9 which presses it in contact with the paste-covered corrugated web i0 on roll charged from the machine as indicated at 14.

Prior to the threading of each new web of a new width through the machine, the pistons 3i-32' or 511-52 are adjusted to the width of the '15 web. In this connection, it will be understood the case tubular steam shower member 4, the single-faced corrugated board being discomprising an elongated steam chamber extendis applied directly to the 1 for adjusting the the steam passes and an adjusting screw 4 of said pistons passing that the pistons in Figure 2 are adjusted uniformly and simultaneously toward and from the center to the width of the web, whereas the pistons 5| and 52 (Figures 4, 5, and 6) are adjustable independently so that they can be accommodated not only to the width of the web but to any path which may be selected for passing it through the machine, the same not necessarily being on cente The guides 53 shown in Figures 4, 6, and 'I at 1 the sides of ,the web and having their shanks 51 of the width of the slot 52 extending through the same, give additional protection against the possibility of the loss of steam, and may be arranged as shown to serve as guides for the side 15 edges of the straw or paper. indicate the position of the pistons.

, It will be understood that in the operation of the machine, the pistons being adjusted to the width and location of the web, steam, being introduced by way or the pipes 43 and I4, is discharged from the portion of the slot or other discharge means 5 F42 or 54 between the pistons and thus confined to the width of the web which overlies and substantially closes the slot, so that 25 all or practically all of the steam discharged web which is thus preheated, steamed, and softened prior to its presentation to the corrugator rolls. Escape of steam is practically eliminated by the close contact 30 of the web with the tubular members or other edges of the slots or discharge openings and adjustment is easily and quickly performed. It is understood that the adjustment is a single one for each member or at least a single adjustment for each position, greatly simplifying the adjustment and the chances of an'oversight.

I have thus described a preferred and modified form of the invention, the description being specific and in detail in order that the manner of constructing, applying, operating, and using the invention may be fully understood; however, the specific terms herein are used descriptively rather than in a limiting sense, the scope or the invention being defined in the claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A steam shower for web paper corrugators comprising an elongated steam chamber extending transversely across the path of the web and in contact therewith, said chamber having a narrow slot extendingv along the portion over which the said web passes, means located substantially centrally of the chamber for introducing steam thereto, a pair of. adjustable pistons, 55 one of said pistons being located adjacent each end of the chamber and adapted to slide therein lengthof the slot through which for each rotatably supported in both ends of the latter,

"there being a pairot apertures located in each piston, one aperture being threadably engaged with one of said screws, the other screw being slidably received within the other aperture for supporting said pistons against rotation, each of the said screws being adapted to be rotated from either end of the chamber for actuating the said pistons.

2. A steam shower for web paper corrugators, 7o ing transversely across the path of the web and in contact therewith, said chamber having a narrow slot extending along theportion overwhich the-said web passes, means substantially central- They also serve to through the chamber and 60 cing ably engagingsaid pistons and rotatably supsteam thereto, a pair of adjustable pistons, one borted in both ends or the said chamber, said dlacent each end rod being operable from either end of the said of thesaid chamber and adapted to slide therein chamber I for moving the said pistons relative for adJusting the length of the slot through which thereto.

4 THOMAS S. FITCHE'I'I'. 

